Head Coach Lon Kruger ||||||||||||||||||
Opening comment:
"Again, a game where it was a lot uphill all night long in terms of trying to get a handle on it and get ahold of it. We never really did obviously, being down there late. We had some good defensive stops right there and a couple buckets in transition which really helped us out. To get Je'lon's shot in transition, to put [Steven] Pledger at the line -- a lot of big plays there late to help us sneak out with a win."
On the slow start offensively:
"We didn't finish some opportunities perhaps. It didn't seem like early we had much attack on the offensive end. I thought we started the second half attacking and getting it downhill a little bit and getting to the free throw line, which gave us a little energy early. We are obviously searching right now to score points and we are not shooting for a very good percentage and not moving the ball very well, so we have to keep searching. It's nice to win games while we are learning and while we are searching, but we have to play better."
On playing five games in eight days:
"We played like it for sure but I don't know if it was because of fatigue. But whenever we don't play well we always have to acknowledge that Northwestern State did some nice things. They have some big athletes and they did a good job and they were physical. Not to take anything away from them, but we have to play better. We have a day off tomorrow, will get away from it a little bit and then get back in preparation for Arkansas on Tuesday."
NSU Head Coach Mike McConathy ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opening comment:
"Congratulations to Coach Kruger on his 500th win. We just didn't make the plays we needed to during the last parts of the game. You never throw a bounce pass from the sideline; they were able to steal the ball, and were able to cut it to two."
On Northwestern State's missed 3-pointer to tie:
"We just needed a crease to where we could get a nice, clean shot off but couldn't and that's unfortunate because the kids competed so hard. But I was really proud of them because I felt like they competed. We've just got to be tougher and play smarter with the basketball. All the credit to OU; they did a fabulous job."
On the difference at the end of the game:
"We just didn't make plays. We had DeQuan Hicks in there trying to get it up and he just couldn't get the space he needed in order to get it up."
On OU's defense:
"You've got to credit OU in that they were so aggressive defensively. I've been in coaching for 30-something years so I know some coaches and they say they're as tough and they play as hard of defense as anybody they've seen in a long time -- whether it's officials saying that or whether it's coaches saying that. I honestly felt good to be right in there with them because that's the type of quality team they are."
